The Influence of the Distribution Characteristics of Complex Natural Fracture on the Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Morphology
Natural fractures are common in unconventional reservoirs (e.g., tight oil and gas, shale oil and gas), for which hydraulic fracturing is the main exploitation method. Natural fractures influence the propagation and final transformation effect of hydraulic fractures, which is an important factor for...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.784931/full |
| _version_ | 1798024680375844864 |
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| author | Huan Zhao Wei Li Lei Wang Jing Fu Yun Long Xue Jian Jun Zhu Si Qi Li |
| author_facet | Huan Zhao Wei Li Lei Wang Jing Fu Yun Long Xue Jian Jun Zhu Si Qi Li |
| author_sort | Huan Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural fractures are common in unconventional reservoirs (e.g., tight oil and gas, shale oil and gas), for which hydraulic fracturing is the main exploitation method. Natural fractures influence the propagation and final transformation effect of hydraulic fractures, which is an important factor for fracture optimization design. In this work, the method of globally embedding zero-thickness cohesive zone elements is applied to establish a dynamic propagation model of hydraulic fractures in naturally fractured reservoirs, and the influence of natural fracture development on the fracture propagation patterns is investigated. The results show that the hydraulic fracture propagation paths in fractured reservoirs are highly complex, and steering, branching, and merging of the propagation paths may occur. When the natural fracture development is small, the fracture propagation pattern is mainly influenced by the minimum horizontal principal stress. In contrast, when the natural fracture development is large, the fracture propagation pattern is influenced by the natural fracture distribution. With increasing natural fracture angle, hydraulic fractures can easily pass through natural fractures and form wide fracturs. Higher numbers of natural fracture groups and fractal dimensions increase the number of fracture propagation directions and communicating natural fractures, and the fractures tend to be narrow and complex. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:06:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-914127cf4fd746deb546b641477016bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:06:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-914127cf4fd746deb546b641477016bb2022-12-22T04:10:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632022-01-01910.3389/feart.2021.784931784931The Influence of the Distribution Characteristics of Complex Natural Fracture on the Hydraulic Fracture Propagation MorphologyHuan Zhao0Wei Li1Lei Wang2Jing Fu3Yun Long Xue4Jian Jun Zhu5Si Qi Li6College of Petroleum Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing, ChinaCollege of Petroleum Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing, ChinaDaqing Oilfield Production Technology Institute, Daqing, ChinaColorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United StatesChangqing Oilfield Exploration and Development Research Institute, Xian, ChinaDaqing Oilfield Production Technology Institute, Daqing, ChinaCollege of Petroleum Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing, ChinaNatural fractures are common in unconventional reservoirs (e.g., tight oil and gas, shale oil and gas), for which hydraulic fracturing is the main exploitation method. Natural fractures influence the propagation and final transformation effect of hydraulic fractures, which is an important factor for fracture optimization design. In this work, the method of globally embedding zero-thickness cohesive zone elements is applied to establish a dynamic propagation model of hydraulic fractures in naturally fractured reservoirs, and the influence of natural fracture development on the fracture propagation patterns is investigated. The results show that the hydraulic fracture propagation paths in fractured reservoirs are highly complex, and steering, branching, and merging of the propagation paths may occur. When the natural fracture development is small, the fracture propagation pattern is mainly influenced by the minimum horizontal principal stress. In contrast, when the natural fracture development is large, the fracture propagation pattern is influenced by the natural fracture distribution. With increasing natural fracture angle, hydraulic fractures can easily pass through natural fractures and form wide fracturs. Higher numbers of natural fracture groups and fractal dimensions increase the number of fracture propagation directions and communicating natural fractures, and the fractures tend to be narrow and complex.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.784931/fullcomplex natural fracturehydraulic fracturedynamic propagationcohesive zone elementfractal dimension |
| spellingShingle | Huan Zhao Wei Li Lei Wang Jing Fu Yun Long Xue Jian Jun Zhu Si Qi Li The Influence of the Distribution Characteristics of Complex Natural Fracture on the Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Morphology Frontiers in Earth Science complex natural fracture hydraulic fracture dynamic propagation cohesive zone element fractal dimension |
| title | The Influence of the Distribution Characteristics of Complex Natural Fracture on the Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Morphology |
| title_full | The Influence of the Distribution Characteristics of Complex Natural Fracture on the Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Morphology |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of the Distribution Characteristics of Complex Natural Fracture on the Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Morphology |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of the Distribution Characteristics of Complex Natural Fracture on the Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Morphology |
| title_short | The Influence of the Distribution Characteristics of Complex Natural Fracture on the Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Morphology |
| title_sort | influence of the distribution characteristics of complex natural fracture on the hydraulic fracture propagation morphology |
| topic | complex natural fracture hydraulic fracture dynamic propagation cohesive zone element fractal dimension |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.784931/full |
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